U.S. patent application number 17/560777 was filed with the patent office on 2022-09-22 for vibration damping device and method of manufacturing the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED. The applicant listed for this patent is HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED. Invention is credited to Yusuke ARAI, Hiroki KONDO, Kozo KUBOTA, Kenji OKI, Shingo TANAKA.
Application Number | 20220297525 17/560777 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006106612 |
Filed Date | 2022-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220297525 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
OKI; Kenji ; et al. |
September 22, 2022 |
VIBRATION DAMPING DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
Abstract
A vibration damping device including a vibration-damping device
main unit inserted into a mounting space of a bracket from a
lateral side and securely supported by the bracket. The bracket
includes engaging pieces on respective opposed inside faces of the
mounting space, and engaging action of the engaging pieces with
respect to respective detent engaging faces formed on a fixture
member of the vibration-damping device main unit prevents the
vibration-damping device main unit from becoming dislodged from the
mounting space of the bracket. Opposed walls of the mounting space
are each penetrated by an aperture window, and inspection flat
surfaces are separately provided to an outside surface of each
engaging piece visible from an outside through the aperture window
and a corresponding external side surface of the bracket that is
off the aperture window. The inspection flat surfaces are parallel
to each other.
Inventors: |
OKI; Kenji; (Komaki-shi,
JP) ; TANAKA; Shingo; (Komaki-shi, JP) ;
KONDO; Hiroki; (Komaki-shi, JP) ; ARAI; Yusuke;
(Tokyo, JP) ; KUBOTA; Kozo; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD. |
Komaki-shi
Tokyo |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY
LIMITED
Komaki-shi
JP
HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
1000006106612 |
Appl. No.: |
17/560777 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16F 15/08 20130101;
F16F 2230/0005 20130101; B60K 5/1208 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60K 5/12 20060101
B60K005/12; F16F 15/08 20060101 F16F015/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 22, 2021 |
JP |
2021-047685 |
Claims
1. A vibration damping device comprising: a vibration-damping
device main unit including a fixture member; and a bracket having a
mounting space, the vibration-damping device main unit being
inserted into the mounting space of the bracket from a lateral side
such that the fixture member of the vibration-damping device main
unit is arranged between opposed inside faces of the mounting space
and securely supported by the bracket, wherein the bracket includes
engaging pieces on the respective opposed inside faces of the
mounting space while the vibration-damping device main unit
includes detent engaging faces formed on the fixture member, and
engaging action of the engaging pieces with respect to the
respective detent engaging faces prevents the vibration-damping
device main unit from becoming dislodged from the mounting space of
the bracket, and opposed walls of the mounting space of the bracket
are each penetrated by an aperture window, and inspection flat
surfaces are separately provided to an outside surface of each
engaging piece visible from an outside through the aperture window
and a corresponding external side surface of the bracket that is
off the aperture window, the inspection flat surfaces being
parallel to each other.
2. The vibration damping device according to claim 1, wherein a gap
is provided between overlapped surfaces of an inside surface of
each engaging piece and the fixture member.
3. The vibration damping device according to claim 1, wherein the
inspection flat surface provided to the external side surface of
the bracket is provided adjacently to the aperture window in a
direction of parting a mold for molding the external side surface
of the bracket.
4. A method of manufacturing the vibration damping device according
to claim 1, comprising a non-destructive inspection step of
measuring relative positions of the inspection flat surface
provided to the outside surface of each engaging piece and the
inspection flat surface provided to the corresponding external side
surface of the bracket such that engagement failure between the
engaging piece and the corresponding detent engaging face is
detected.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the relative positions
of the inspection flat surfaces are measured in a direction
orthogonal to the inspection flat surfaces.
Description
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
[0001] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.
2021-047685 filed on Mar. 22, 2021 including the specification,
drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a vibration damping device
for use in, for example, an automotive engine mount or the like,
and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] Conventionally, for example, a vibration damping device
having a structure in which a bracket is attached to the
vibration-damping device main unit is used, for example, in an
engine mount for an automobile. As shown in Japanese Unexamined
Patent Publication No. JP-A-2018-162824, the bracket has a mounting
space into which the vibration-damping device main unit is inserted
from the lateral side, and the vibration damping device has a
structure in which a fixing member of the vibration-damping device
main unit is arranged between the opposed inside faces of the
mounting space of the bracket and securely supported by the
bracket.
[0004] Meanwhile, in JP-A-2018-162824, in order to prevent the
vibration-damping device main unit from becoming dislodged from the
mounting space of the bracket, there is provided a detent structure
by engagement between engaging parts provided to the fixing member
of the vibration-damping device main unit and engaging parts
provided to opposed inside faces of the bracket.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] However, as in JP-A-2018-162824, if the detent structure for
preventing the vibration-damping device main unit from becoming
dislodged from the bracket is provided in the mounting space of the
bracket, for example, when the vibration-damping device main unit
is inserted and attached to the mounting space of the bracket, it
is difficult to accurately grasp engagement failure in which the
engaging parts are not engaged in an appropriate state. In
JP-A-2018-162824, disclosed is a structure in which a through hole
is provided in the forward wall, which is located on the forward
side of the bracket in the direction of insertion of the
vibration-damping device main unit, and the engaging parts can be
visually confirmed through the through hole. However, with the
through hole provided in the forward wall of the bracket, the
engaging face is hidden by the claw-shaped engaging part, making it
difficult to confirm the engaged state. Thus, visually confirming
the dark and narrow engaged portion inside the through hole per se
is difficult. For example, it is substantially impossible to find a
defect such as a crack generated on a surface other than the
visible surface.
[0006] It is therefore one object of the present invention to
provide a vibration damping device of novel structure which is able
to easily and accurately confirm that the vibration-damping device
main unit is appropriately prevented from becoming dislodged from
the bracket.
[0007] Moreover, it is another object of the present invention to
provide a method of manufacturing the vibration damping device as
described above.
[0008] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for grasping the present
invention will be described. However, each preferred embodiment
described below is exemplary and can be appropriately combined with
each other. Besides, a plurality of elements described in each
preferred embodiment can be recognized and adopted as independently
as possible, or can also be appropriately combined with any element
described in other preferred embodiments. By so doing, in the
present invention, various other preferred embodiments can be
realized without being limited to those described below.
[0009] A first preferred embodiment provides a vibration damping
device comprising: a vibration-damping device main unit including a
fixture member; and a bracket having a mounting space, the
vibration-damping device main unit being inserted into the mounting
space of the bracket from a lateral side such that the fixture
member of the vibration-damping device main unit is arranged
between opposed inside faces of the mounting space and securely
supported by the bracket, wherein the bracket includes engaging
pieces on the respective opposed inside faces of the mounting space
while the vibration-damping device main unit includes detent
engaging faces formed on the fixture member, and engaging action of
the engaging pieces with respect to the respective detent engaging
faces prevents the vibration-damping device main unit from becoming
dislodged from the mounting space of the bracket, and opposed walls
of the mounting space of the bracket are each penetrated by an
aperture window, and inspection flat surfaces are separately
provided to an outside surface of each engaging piece visible from
an outside through the aperture window and a corresponding external
side surface of the bracket that is off the aperture window, the
inspection flat surfaces being parallel to each other.
[0010] According to the vibration damping device structured
following the present preferred embodiment, by measuring the
relative positions of the inspection flat surfaces provided to the
outside surface of the engaging piece and the external side surface
of the bracket, it is possible, for example, to easily and
accurately confirm the engagement failure between the engaging
piece and the detent engaging face due to damage to the engaging
piece or the like. In particular, since the inspection flat
surfaces are parallel to each other, the relative positions of the
inspection flat surfaces can also be stably measured by a machine
with high accuracy.
[0011] A second preferred embodiment provides the vibration damping
device according to the first preferred embodiment, wherein a gap
is provided between overlapped surfaces of an inside surface of
each engaging piece and the fixture member.
[0012] According to the vibration damping device structured
following the present preferred embodiment, the engaging piece is
prevented from being engaged with the detent engaging face in a
deformed state in contact with the fixture member, thereby stably
realizing an appropriate engaged state between the engaging piece
and the detent engaging face.
[0013] A third preferred embodiment provides the vibration damping
device according to the first or second preferred embodiment,
wherein the inspection flat surface provided to the external side
surface of the bracket is provided adjacently to the aperture
window in a direction of parting a mold for molding the external
side surface of the bracket.
[0014] According to the vibration damping device structured
following the present preferred embodiment, for example, the
external side surface of the bracket can be molded by a simple mold
structure parted in a direction orthogonal to the direction of
opening of the aperture window. Additionally, it is easy to form
the inspection flat surface parallel to the direction of parting
the mold on the external side surface of the bracket that is off
the aperture window.
[0015] A fourth preferred embodiment provides a method of
manufacturing the vibration damping device according to any one of
the first through third preferred embodiments, comprising a
non-destructive inspection step of measuring relative positions of
the inspection flat surface provided to the outside surface of each
engaging piece and the inspection flat surface provided to the
corresponding external side surface of the bracket such that
engagement failure between the engaging piece and the corresponding
detent engaging face is detected.
[0016] According to the method of manufacturing the vibration
damping device following the present preferred embodiment,
engagement failure between the engaging piece and the detent
engaging face due to, for example, damage to the engaging piece or
the like, can be confirmed easily and accurately based on the
relative positions of the inspection flat surfaces. Since the
inspection flat surfaces are provided so as to be exposed to the
outside and are parallel to each other, the relative positions can
be easily measured by a machine, thereby reducing the labor and the
time required for inspection.
[0017] A fifth preferred embodiment provides the method of
manufacturing the vibration damping device according to the fourth
preferred embodiment, wherein the relative positions of the
inspection flat surfaces are measured in a direction orthogonal to
the inspection flat surfaces.
[0018] According to the method of manufacturing the vibration
damping device following the present preferred embodiment, the
direction of measuring the relative positions of the inspection
flat surfaces coincides with the direction orthogonal to the
inspection flat surfaces. Thus, for example, even if an error
occurs in the measurement position of the inspection flat surface,
the influence on the measurement results is suppressed, thereby
stably measuring the relative positions.
[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily
and accurately confirm that the vibration-damping device main unit
is appropriately prevented from becoming dislodged from the
bracket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The foregoing and/or other objects, features and advantages
of the invention will become more apparent from the following
description of a practical embodiment with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate
like elements and wherein:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vibration damping
device in the form of an engine mount according to a first
practical embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the engine mount shown in
FIG. 1 at another angle;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the engine mount shown in
FIG. 1 at yet another angle;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the engine
mount shown in FIG. 1, which is equivalent to a cross-sectional
view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 5;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of
FIG. 4;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of
FIG. 4;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a mount main unit
constituting the engine mount shown in FIG. 1;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a rear view of an outer bracket constituting the
engine mount shown in FIG. 1;
[0029] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the outer
bracket shown in FIG. 8, which is equivalent to a cross-sectional
view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;
[0030] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of
FIG. 8;
[0031] FIG. 11 is a right side view of the outer bracket shown in
FIG. 8;
[0032] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 of
FIG. 11; and
[0033] FIG. 13 is a perspective view suitable for explaining
insertion of the mount main unit shown in FIG. 7 into the outer
bracket shown in FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0034] A practical embodiment of the present invention will be
described below in reference to the drawings.
[0035] Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 6, there is depicted an
automotive engine mount 10 as a first practical embodiment of a
vibration damping device according to the present invention. The
engine mount 10 includes a mount main unit 12 serving as a
vibration-damping device main unit. As shown in FIG. 7, the mount
main unit 12 has a structure in which a first mounting member 14
and a second mounting member 16 serving as a fixture member are
connected by a main rubber elastic body 18. In the following
description, as a general rule, the vertical direction refers to
the vertical direction in FIG. 4, which coincides with the mount
center axis direction, and the left-right direction refers to the
left-right direction in FIG. 4, which coincides with the width
direction of an outer bracket 62 to be described later. Besides, as
a general rule, the front-back direction refers to the left-right
direction in FIG. 5, the front (forward) refers to rightward in
FIG. 5, and the back (backward) refers to leftward in FIG. 5. In
addition, for a plurality of identical members, reference numerals
may be assigned to only a part of the members, and may be omitted
from others.
[0036] The first mounting member 14 is a high rigidity component
formed of metal, synthetic resin, or the like, and is a solid,
round block shape as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The first mounting
member 14 decreases in diameter toward the bottom.
[0037] The second mounting member 16 is a high rigidity component
similar to the first mounting member 14, and is annular as shown in
FIG. 6. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the outside peripheral portion
of the second mounting member 16 protrudes further downward than
the inside portion so as to have a larger vertical dimension. As
shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, the left-right opposite ends of the
second mounting member 16 serve as guide parts 22, 22. The guide
parts 22, 22 are constituted by the outside peripheral portion of
the second mounting member 16 whose vertical dimension is
increased, and the left-right opposite surfaces serve as guide
surfaces 24, 24. Each of the guide surfaces 24, 24 is a plane that
extends generally orthogonally to the left-right direction. It is
desirable that the guide surfaces 24, 24 extend in the front-back
direction in order to obtain an advantageous guiding action when
inserting the mount main unit 12 into the outer bracket 62, which
will be described later, and in the present practical embodiment,
the front-back dimension of the guide surface 24 is larger than its
vertical dimension.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 7, outer recesses 26, 26 are formed in the
guide parts 22, 22 of the second mounting member 16. The outer
recesses 26, 26 have a groove shape that opens onto the guide
surfaces 24, 24 of the guide parts 22, 22 and passes through in the
vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 6 as well, the outer recesses
26, 26 have respective concave bottom faces 28, 28 whose back part
slopes with respect to the front- back direction. In the concave
bottom faces 28, 28, in the back part, the depth dimension
gradually increases toward the front, while in the front part, the
depth dimension is generally constant. The concave bottom faces 28,
28 of the outer recesses 26, 26 each have a shape corresponding to
that of the inner surfaces of engaging pieces 96, 96 in the
left-right direction, which will be described later. The guide
parts 22, 22 include respective engaging walls 30, 30 on the front
side of the outer recesses 26, 26. The wall inner faces of the
front (forward in the direction of insertion of the mount main unit
12) of the outer recesses 26, 26 constituted by the engaging walls
30, 30 serve as detent engaging face 32, 32, which are planes that
extend generally orthogonally to the front-back direction. Further,
the guide parts 22, 22 include respective mating parts 34, 34 on
the back side of the outer recesses 26, 26.
[0039] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first mounting member 14 and
the second mounting member 16 are disposed vertically apart on
approximately the same center axis, and are elastically connected
by the main rubber elastic body 18. The main rubber elastic body 18
has a generally frustoconical shape, and the first mounting member
14 is fastened to its upper part, which is the small-diameter side,
and the second mounting member 16 is fastened to the outer
circumferential surface of its lower part, which is the
large-diameter side. The main rubber elastic body 18 is, for
example, bonded by vulcanization to the first mounting member 14
and the second mounting member 16 during molding.
[0040] The main rubber elastic body 18 includes a hollow part 36
that opens downward. The hollow part 36 has a tapered shape in
which the upper part of the peripheral wall becomes smaller in
diameter upward. The main rubber elastic body 18 has a tapered
cross-sectional shape that slopes to the outer circumference toward
the bottom due to the formation of the hollow part 36.
[0041] A partition member 38 is attached to the second mounting
member 16. The partition member 38 has a generally circular disk
shape overall, and has a structure in which a movable member 44 is
arranged between a partition member body 40 and a lid member
42.
[0042] In the outer circumferential portion of the partition member
body 40, a circumferential groove 46 extending in the
circumferential direction for a length less than once around the
circumference is formed so as to open onto the upper surface. An
annular housing recess 48 is formed in the inside portion of the
partition member body 40 so as to open onto the upper surface. The
upper opening of the housing recess 48 is covered by a lid member
42. The lid member 42 has a thin-walled circular disk shape, and is
overlapped on and fixed to the upper surface of the partition
member body 40.
[0043] The movable member 44 is housed in the housing recess 48 of
the partition member body 40. The movable member 44 is a rubber
elastic body having an approximately annular plate shape, with its
radially inner end and its outer peripheral end both protruding
upward to be thick-walled. With the movable member 44 inserted in
the housing recess 48, the lid member 42 is fixed to the partition
member body 40, whereby the movable member 44 is housed in housing
recess 48 between the partition member body 40 and the lid member
42. The thick-walled radially inner end and outer peripheral end of
the movable member 44 are clasped between the partition member body
40 and the lid member 42 in the vertical direction, and elastic
deformation of the movable member 44 is allowed in the thickness
direction radially between the radially inner end and the outer
peripheral end. As described above, the movable member 44 of the
present practical embodiment has a movable membrane structure.
However, as the movable member, it would also be possible to adopt,
for example, a movable plate structure that is allowed to move in
the vertical direction in the housing recess 48.
[0044] A flexible film 50 formed of a thin-walled elastomer is
provided below the partition member 38. The flexible film 50 has a
thick-walled outer peripheral end and is overlapped with the lower
surface of the partition member body 40. An annular support member
52 is overlapped with the outer peripheral end of the flexible film
50 from below, and the outer peripheral end of the flexible film 50
is clasped between the partition member body 40 and the support
member 52 in the mounted state of the outer bracket 62 with respect
to the mount main unit 12 to be described later.
[0045] The support member 52 is a high rigidity component similar
to the second mounting member 16. In the mounted state of the outer
bracket 62 with respect to the mount main unit 12, which will be
described later, the outer peripheral portion of the support member
52 is in contact with the lower surface of the partition member
body 40. Accordingly, the second mounting member 16, the partition
member 38, and the support member 52 are mutually positioned in the
vertical direction.
[0046] By the partition member 38 and the flexible film 50 being
attached to the second mounting member 16, which constitutes an
integrally vulcanization molded component of the main rubber
elastic body 18, a pressure-receiving chamber 54 whose wall portion
is partially defined by the main rubber elastic body 18 is formed
between the main rubber elastic body 18 and the partition member
38. In addition, an equilibrium chamber 56 whose wall portion is
partially defined by the flexible film 50 is formed between the
partition member 38 and the flexible film 50. The
pressure-receiving chamber 54 and the equilibrium chamber 56 are
filled with a non-compressible fluid or liquid. The
non-compressible fluid is not particularly limited, but for
example, water, ethylene glycol, or the like can be adopted. The
non-compressible fluid may be a mixture.
[0047] The pressure-receiving chamber 54 and the equilibrium
chamber 56 communicate with each other through an orifice passage
58 comprising the circumferential groove 46 of the partition member
38. The orifice passage 58 extends in the outer circumferential
portion of the partition member 38 in the circumferential
direction, with one end communicating with the pressure-receiving
chamber 54 while the other end communicating with the equilibrium
chamber 56. When a vibration in the vertical direction is input
across the first mounting member 14 and the second mounting member
16 so that an internal pressure difference is generated between the
pressure-receiving chamber 54 and the equilibrium chamber 56, fluid
flow through the orifice passage 58 is produced between the
pressure-receiving chamber 54 and the equilibrium chamber 56,
whereby vibration damping effects such as a high attenuating action
based on the flow action of the fluid will be achieved. With the
orifice passage 58, the tuning frequency, which is the resonance
frequency of the flowing fluid, is adjusted to the frequency of the
vibration to be damped by the ratio of passage cross sectional area
to passage length, and for example, the tuning frequency is set to
a low frequency on the order of 10 Hz, which corresponds to engine
shake.
[0048] The liquid pressure of the pressure-receiving chamber 54 and
the liquid pressure of the equilibrium chamber 56 are respectively
exerted on the upper and lower surfaces of the movable member 44
arranged in the housing recess 48. When a vibration in the vertical
direction is input across the first mounting member 14 and the
second mounting member 16 so that an internal pressure difference
is generated between the pressure-receiving chamber 54 and the
equilibrium chamber 56, the movable member 44 elastically deforms
in the thickness direction, so as to transmit and release the
liquid pressure of the pressure-receiving chamber 54 to the
equilibrium chamber 56.
[0049] When a low-frequency, large-amplitude vibration is input,
fluid flow through the orifice passage 58 is actively produced in a
resonant state, and the vibration damping effect due to high
damping is exerted. When a low-frequency, large-amplitude vibration
is input, the deformation of the movable member 44 does not fully
follow the input vibration, and the effect of releasing the liquid
pressure due to the deformation of the movable member 44 is
reduced, so that fluid flow through the orifice passage 58 is
efficiently produced. Meanwhile, when a small-amplitude vibration
of medium to high frequency is input, the orifice passage 58
becomes substantially clogged due to antiresonance, but the movable
member 44 actively undergoes elastic deformation in the resonant
state so as to release the liquid pressure, thereby exhibiting
vibration damping effect due to low dynamic spring behavior.
[0050] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, an inner bracket 60 and an outer
bracket 62 serving as a bracket are attached to the mount main unit
12.
[0051] The inner bracket 60 is a plate-shaped member and includes a
connecting part 64 that is overlapped on the upper surface of the
first mounting member 14 and extends forward (to the right in FIG.
5), and an attachment part 66 integrally formed to the front of the
connecting part 64. The attachment part 66 protrudes to the
left-right opposite sides with respect to the connecting part 64,
and is penetrated by bolt holes 70, 70 in the vertical direction.
The inner bracket 60 is attached to the mount main unit 12 by being
fixed by bolting to the first mounting member 14 with a connecting
bolt 72. The inner bracket 60 is configured such that, in the state
where the mount main unit 12 is mounted on the outer bracket 62,
which will be described later, the attachment part 66 protrudes
further forward than the outer bracket 62, and the connecting part
64 is inserted into an insertion hole 86 (described later) of the
outer bracket 62 and fixed to the first mounting member 14.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 8, the outer bracket 62 includes a pair of
opposed walls 74, 74. The opposed walls 74, 74 each extend in the
vertical direction and are opposed to each other in the left-right
direction. The upper ends of the opposed walls 74, 74 are connected
to each other by an integrally formed top wall 76. The lower ends
of the opposed walls 74, 74 are connected to each other by an
integrally formed base wall 78. The lower ends of the opposed walls
74, 74 have respective attachment pieces 80, 80 projecting outward
in the left-right direction, and the attachment pieces 80, 80 are
penetrated by respective bolt holes 82, 82 in the vertical
direction (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
[0053] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the outer bracket 62 is
configured such that the front end portions of the opposed walls
74, 74 are connected to each other by an integrally formed forward
wall 84. The forward wall 84 has a plate shape that extends in an
intersecting direction with respect to the front-back direction,
and the left-right opposite ends are connected to the opposed walls
74, 74. The forward wall 84 is remote downward from the top wall
76, and an insertion hole 86 penetrating in the front-back
direction is formed between the forward wall 84 and the top wall
76.
[0054] In the outer bracket 62, the space enclosed by the opposed
walls 74, 74, the top wall 76, the base wall 78, and the forward
wall 84 serves as a mounting space 88 in which the mount main unit
12 is housed. The mounting space 88 has a recess shape that opens
backward, and the opening to the back of the mounting space 88
serves as an insertion opening 90 (see FIGS. 2 and 6). The mounting
space 88 opens forward through the insertion hole 86 at the upper
part.
[0055] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, fitting grooves 94, 94 open onto
respective opposed inside faces 92, 92, which are the wall inner
surfaces of the mounting space 88 defined by the pair of opposed
walls 74, 74. The fitting grooves 94, 94 extend straightly in the
front-back direction, and the back ends thereof reach the
respective back ends of the pair of opposed walls 74, 74 and open
onto the back surface of the outer bracket 62 at the insertion
opening 90. In other words, the fitting grooves 94, 94 extend
straightly from the insertion opening 90 toward the front, namely
forward in the mounting space 88. The fitting grooves 94, 94 are
provided at the respective lower parts of the opposed inside faces
92, 92, so that the distance between the opposed inside faces 92,
92 in the left-right direction is larger at the lower part than at
the upper part.
[0056] The opposed walls 74, 74 of the outer bracket 62 are
integrally provided with engaging pieces 96, 96 extending from the
respective opposed inside faces 92, 92. The engaging pieces 96, 96
each have a plate shape and have flexibility and elasticity in the
plate thickness direction. The inner surfaces of the engaging
pieces 96, 96 in the left-right direction have shapes corresponding
to the concave bottom faces 28, 28 of the outer recesses 26, 26. As
shown in FIG. 10, proximal end portions 98, 98 of the engaging
pieces 96, 96 comprise slope portions extending so as to slope
inward in the left-right direction toward the front.
[0057] Distal end portions 100, 100 of the engaging pieces 96, 96
extend forward in the generally front-back direction. Outside
surfaces 101, 101 of the engaging pieces 96, 96 in the left-right
direction comprise first inspection flat surfaces 102, 102 that
spread orthogonally to the left-right direction at the distal end
portions 100, 100. Further, distal end faces 104, 104 of the
engaging pieces 96, 96 are flat surfaces that spread generally
orthogonally to the front-back direction.
[0058] The pair of opposed walls 74, 74 of the outer bracket 62 are
penetrated by respective aperture windows 106. As shown in FIGS. 10
to 12, the aperture windows 106, 106 are holes having an
approximately quadrangular cross section and penetrating in the
left-right direction. One end of each of the aperture windows 106,
106 opens to corresponding one of external side surfaces 107, 107
of the opposed walls 74, 74 of the outer bracket 62 to communicate
with the outside, and the other end thereof opens to corresponding
one of inner side surfaces of the opposed wall 74, 74 and
communicates with the corresponding one of the fitting grooves 94,
94 forming the mounting space 88. The aperture windows 106, 106 are
located on the outer sides of the respective engaging pieces 96, 96
in the left-right direction, and as shown in FIG. 11, the first
inspection flat surfaces 102, 102 of the engaging pieces 96, 96 are
exposed to the outside in the left-right direction through the
aperture windows 106, 106. With this configuration, the first
inspection flat surfaces 102, 102 of the engaging pieces 96, 96 are
visible from the outside through the aperture windows 106, 106 in
the left-right direction. The aperture windows 106, 106 of the
present practical embodiment have a size, position, and shape that
expose not only the first inspection flat surfaces 102, 102 but
also the entire outside surfaces 101, 101 of the engaging pieces
96, 96. However, for example, it would also be acceptable that only
a part of the outside surfaces 101, 101 of the engaging pieces 96,
96 including at least a part of the first inspection flat surfaces
102, 102 is exposed to the outside in the left-right direction
through the aperture windows 106, 106.
[0059] In the present practical embodiment, each engaging piece 96
is formed so as to project forward from the inside end (the opposed
inside face 92--side end) of the back end side inner surface of the
corresponding aperture window 106 having an approximately
quadrangular shape. The engaging piece 96 is located on the inside
opening of the aperture window 106, and at least the inside surface
of the distal end portion 100 is positioned so as to project into
the mounting space 88 beyond the inside opening surface of the
aperture window 106.
[0060] With this configuration, the first inspection flat surfaces
102, 102 of the engaging pieces 96, 96 are visible from the outside
through the aperture windows 106, 106 in the left-right direction.
The aperture windows 106, 106 of the present practical embodiment
have a size, position, and shape that expose not only the first
inspection flat surfaces 102, 102 but also the entire outside
surfaces 101, 101 of the engaging pieces 96, 96. However, for
example, it would also be acceptable that only a part of the
outside surfaces 101, 101 of the engaging pieces 96, 96 including
at least a part of the first inspection flat surfaces 102, 102 is
exposed to the outside in the left-right direction through the
aperture windows 106, 106. Preferably, the aperture window 106 is
formed with a position and shape in which the distal end portion
100 including the distal end edge of each engaging piece 96 is
exposed to the outside through the corresponding aperture window
106 in at least a part in the vertical direction and in the
front-back direction.
[0061] Second inspection flat surfaces 108, 108 are provided to the
upper side of the respective aperture windows 106, 106. The second
inspection flat surfaces 108, 108 are provided to the respective
external side surfaces 107, 107 of the opposed walls 74, 74, and
spread generally orthogonally to the left-right direction. The
second inspection flat surfaces 108, 108 are provided so as to be
upwardly adjacent to the aperture windows 106, 106, and spread so
as to extend upward from the upper edge of the aperture windows
106, 106. In the present practical embodiment, the width dimension
of the second inspection flat surfaces 108, 108 in the front-back
direction is generally the same as the width dimension of the
aperture windows 106, 106 in the front-back direction. Since the
aperture windows 106, 106 open to the portions where the external
side surfaces 107, 107 of the opposed walls 74, 74 slope downward,
the second inspection flat surfaces 108, 108 are provided in a
groove shape on the external side surfaces 107, 107 of the opposed
walls 74, 74.
[0062] The mold for molding the outer surface of the outer bracket
62 is vertically parted, and a mold 110 for molding the external
side surfaces 107, 107 of the opposed walls 74, 74 shown by a hatch
pattern with a dashed line in FIG. 12 is demolded upward.
Therefore, it is possible to easily form the second inspection flat
surfaces 108, 108 like the groove bottom faces extending vertically
on the external side surfaces 107, 107 of the opposed walls 74, 74
at the positions that are upwardly adjacent to the respective
aperture windows 106, 106.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 12, the first inspection flat surfaces 102,
102 and the respective second inspection flat surfaces 108, 108
both spread orthogonally to the left-right direction and are
parallel to each other. However, the description that the first
inspection flat surfaces 102, 102 and the second inspection flat
surfaces 108, 108 are parallel to each other does not necessarily
mean that they are mathematically strictly parallel. Specifically,
for example, it is permissible that a slight slope (an extraction
taper) for facilitating the demolding of the mold 110 is set to the
second inspection flat surfaces 108, 108 or the like, so that the
first inspection flat surfaces 102, 102 and the second inspection
flat surfaces 108, 108 are slightly inclined with respect to each
other. For example, when the relative slope angle between the first
inspection flat surfaces 102, 102 and the second inspection flat
surfaces 108, 108 is 1 degree or less, the first inspection flat
surfaces 102, 102 and the second inspection flat surfaces 108, 108
can be regarded as parallel to each other.
[0064] As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of holes 112, 112 are formed in
the forward wall 84. The holes 112, 112 penetrate the forward wall
84 in the front-back direction, and are arranged on the extension
of the respective fitting grooves 94, 94 as shown in FIGS. 8 and
10. The vertically opposite wall inner surfaces of each of the
holes 112, 112 are arranged at the same position in the vertical
direction with respect to the vertically opposite wall inner
surfaces of the corresponding one of the aperture windows 106, 106.
The wall inner surface of each hole 112, 112 on the outside in the
left-right direction is located on the outer side than the outer
surface of the corresponding one of the engaging pieces 96, 96 in
the left-right direction, while the wall inner surface of each hole
112, 112 on the inside in the left-right direction is located on
the inner side than the inner surface of the corresponding one of
the engaging pieces 96, 96 in the left-right direction. Therefore,
at the time of molding the outer bracket 62, the front surface
including the distal end faces 104, 104 of the engaging pieces 96,
96 can be molded by a mold (not shown) forming the holes 112,
112.
[0065] The outer bracket 62 is attached to the mount main unit 12
as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, the mount
main unit 12 is inserted forward, namely in the direction of
attachment, into the mounting space 88 of the outer bracket 62 from
the insertion opening 90. At that time, as shown in FIG. 4, the
fitting parts 114, 114 forming the left-right opposite ends of the
mount main unit 12 are inserted forward into the respective fitting
grooves 94, 94 provided to the pair of opposed walls 74, 74 of the
outer bracket 62 from the insertion opening 90 side, so that the
fitting parts 114, 114 including the second mounting member 16 are
clasped between the upper and lower side wall portions of each of
the fitting grooves 94, 94. By so doing, the second mounting member
16 arranged between the opposed inside faces 92, 92 is securely
supported by the outer bracket 62, and the mount main unit 12 is
attached to the outer bracket 62 from the lateral side (the back
side) which is generally orthogonal to the vertical direction. The
fitting parts 114, 114 of the present practical embodiment are
constituted by the second mounting member 16, the partition member
38, and the support member 52. Further, the support member 52 is
overlapped with the upper surface of the base wall 78 of the outer
bracket 62 not only at the left-right opposite end portions but
over the entire circumference including the front-back opposite end
portions.
[0066] By the fitting parts 114, 114 of the mount main unit 12
being fitted into the fitting grooves 94, 94, a force in the
direction of approach in the vertical direction is exerted between
the second mounting member 16 and the support member 52. With this
arrangement, the lower end of the main rubber elastic body 18 is
compressed in the vertical direction between the second mounting
member 16 and the partition member 38, and the outer peripheral end
of the flexible film 50 is compressed in the vertical direction
between the partition member 38 and the support member 52. As a
result, the fluidtightness at the walls of the pressure-receiving
chamber 54 and the equilibrium chamber 56 is enhanced, and troubles
such as liquid leakage are avoided.
[0067] By the fitting parts 114, 114 of the mount main unit 12
being fitted into the fitting grooves 94, 94, the guide surfaces
24, 24 of the second mounting member 16 are overlapped with the
respective groove bottom faces of the fitting grooves 94, 94. With
this configuration, the second mounting member 16 and the outer
bracket 62 are mutually positioned in the left-right direction.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 7, the engaging pieces 96, 96 projecting
from the opposed inside faces 92, 92 of the outer bracket 62 is
inserted into the outer recesses 26, 26 of the second mounting
member 16 by the mount main unit 12 being attached to the outer
bracket 62. The insertion process of the engaging pieces 96, 96
into the outer recesses 26, 26 and the engaging structure (the
detent structure) formed thereby, which will be described below, is
similar generally symmetrically on both the left and right sides.
Thus, the description will be given about one side.
[0069] Specifically, since the proximal end portion 98 of the
engaging piece 96 comprises the slope portion, the engaging piece
96 is located on the inner side in the left-right direction than
the bottom face of the fitting groove 94. Therefore, by the mount
main unit 12 being inserted into the mounting space 88 of the outer
bracket 62 from the back to the front, the engaging wall 30 of the
second mounting member 16 comes into contact with proximal end
portion 98 of the engaging piece 96.
[0070] By the mount main unit 12 moving further forward with
respect to the outer bracket 62, the engaging wall 30 climbs over
the engaging piece 96 while elastically deforming the engaging
piece 96 and pushing it outward in the left-right direction. In the
present practical embodiment, since the engaging piece 96 is
located on the extension of the aperture window 106, when the
engaging wall 30 climbs over the engaging piece 96, deformation and
displacement of the engaging piece 96 outwardly in the left-right
direction is sufficiently allowed.
[0071] When the engaging wall 30 moves further forward than the
engaging piece 96, the outward force in the left-right direction
that has been exerted on the engaging piece 96 by the contact of
the engaging wall 30 is canceled, so that the engaging piece 96
elastically recovers its original shape, and the engaging piece 96
is inserted into the outer recess 26. Since the proximal end
portion 98 of the engaging piece 96 extends so as to slope inward
in the left-right direction, the engaging piece 96 is inserted into
the outer recess 26 simply by moving the mount main unit 12 forward
with respect to the outer bracket 62.
[0072] The distal end face 104 of the engaging piece 96 inserted
into the outer recess 26 is overlapped with the detent engaging
face 32 of the outer recess 26. The center in the left-right
direction of the distal end face 104 located on the center axis L
of the engaging piece 96 is located in the outer recess 26, and the
center in the left-right direction of the distal end face 104 is
overlapped with the detent engaging face 32 of the outer recess 26.
In the present practical embodiment, the entire distal end face 104
is housed in the outer recess 26 and overlapped with the detent
engaging face 32.
[0073] It is desirable that the distal end face 104 of the engaging
piece 96 be in contact with the detent engaging face 32 in order
that the resistance to dislodgement described later can be quickly
exerted, but distal end face 104 may be overlapped so as to be
opposed to the detent engaging face 32 with a gap, so that
engagement failure due to catching between the distal end face 104
of the engaging piece 96 and the detent engaging face 32 is less
likely to occur. Further, the inner surface of the engaging piece
96 in the left-right direction may be in contact with the concave
bottom face 28 of the outer recess 26, but it is desirable that a
gap 116 be provided between the overlapped surfaces of the inner
surface of the engaging piece 96 in the left-right direction and
the concave bottom face 28.
[0074] When the mount main unit 12 is about to become dislodged
from the outer bracket 62 through the insertion opening 90 backward
opposite to the direction of attachment, the movement of the mount
main unit 12 backward (in the direction of dislodgment) with
respect to the outer bracket 62 is limited by the latch between the
engaging piece 96 and the detent engaging face 32 of the outer
recess 26.
[0075] When the mount main unit 12 is about to move backward
relative to the outer bracket 62, and the distal end face 104 of
the engaging piece 96 is engaged with the detent engaging face 32
of the outer recess 26, a contact reaction force is exerted on the
engaging piece 96. Regarding the engaging piece 96, due to the
action of the contact reaction force, the slope angle of the
proximal end portion 98, which is the slope portion, changes, and
the distal end portion 100 moves inward in the left-right
direction, so that the distal end portion 100 of the engaging piece
96, which has moved inward in the left-right direction, comes into
contact with the concave bottom face 28 of the outer recess 26. By
so doing, the movement of the distal end portion 100 of the
engaging piece 96 inward in the left-right direction is limited by
the concave bottom face 28, which is a stopper face, and the
further change of the slope angle of the proximal end portion 98 is
limited. Due to the tilting motion of the proximal end portion 98
being limited, the contact reaction force input to the engaging
piece 96 acts primarily as a compression force in the direction of
extension of the center axis L. Then, the excellent load bearing
performance of the engaging piece 96 against the compression in the
direction of extension of the center axis L limits the backward
movement of the second mounting member 16 relative to the outer
bracket 62, thereby preventing the mount main unit 12 from becoming
dislodged backward from the outer bracket 62. In this way, in the
engine mount 10, the excellent load bearing capability of the
engaging piece 96 against the compression in the center axis
direction can be skillfully utilized to obtain a larger resistance
to dislodgement that prevents the mount main unit 12 from becoming
dislodged backward from the outer bracket 62.
[0076] Since the distal end face 104 of the engaging piece 96 and
the detent engaging face 32 of the outer recess 26 both spread
orthogonally to the front-back direction, when the distal end face
104 and the detent engaging face 32 are latched, forces in the
left-right and vertical directions are less likely to act between
the distal end face 104 and the detent engaging face 32. Therefore,
the force in the orthogonal direction is efficiently applied to the
distal end face 104 of the engaging piece 96, thereby efficiently
obtaining the resistance to dislodgement in the front-back
direction.
[0077] The distal end portion 100 of the engaging piece 96 extends
in the front-back direction, and the distal end face 104 of the
engaging piece 96 and the detent engaging face 32 of the outer
recess 26 both spread generally orthogonally to the front-back
direction. With this configuration, the direction of the force
exerted on the engaging piece 96 by contact and latch of the distal
end face 104 with the detent engaging face 32 approximately
coincides with the direction of extension of the center axis L at
the distal end portion 100 of the engaging piece 96. Therefore, the
force due to the latch between the engaging piece 96 and the detent
engaging face 32 is more efficiently exerted on the engaging piece
96 as a compression force in the direction of extension of the
center axis L.
[0078] At the distal end face 104 of the engaging piece 96, the
center axis L is located within the outer recess 26. With this
configuration, the moment caused by the contact reaction force
acting on the engaging piece 96 is reduced, and the contact
reaction force is more efficiently exerted on the engaging piece 96
as a compression force, so that the resistance to dislodgement is
efficiently exhibited. In the present practical embodiment, the
opposite ends in the left-right direction of the distal end face
104 of the engaging piece 96 are both located within the outer
recess 26, so that the entire distal end face 104 is housed in the
outer recess 26. With this arrangement, the distal end face 104 of
the engaging piece 96 is in contact with and latched by the detent
engaging face 32 of the outer recess 26 over a wide area, thereby
efficiently obtaining the resistance to dislodgement.
[0079] The stopper face, which limits the deformation of the
engaging piece 96 by coming into contact with the engaging piece
96, is constituted by the concave bottom face 28 of the outer
recess 26. Since the concave bottom face 28 of the outer recess 26
has a shape that corresponds to the inner surface of the engaging
piece 96 in the left-right direction, the engaging piece 96
inserted into the outer recess 26 comes into contact with the
concave bottom face 28 over a wide area. Therefore, the resistance
to dislodgement due to stress against the compressive load of the
engaging piece 96 is efficiently manifested, thereby avoiding
damage to the engaging piece 96 caused by its excessive
deformation.
[0080] In the engaging piece 96, the distal end portion 100
extending so as not to slope with respect to the front-back
direction and the proximal end portion 98 extending so as to slope
with respect to the front-back direction are smoothly continuous
with each other, and no corners or unevenness are formed on the
outer surface at their boundary part. Therefore, when a force is
transmitted from the distal end portion 100 to the proximal end
portion 98 in the direction of the extension of the center axis L,
local stress concentration is avoided, thereby avoiding damage to
the engaging piece 96 or the like.
[0081] The engaging piece 96 is provided in the middle of the outer
bracket 62 in the front-back direction. Thus, in the isolated state
of the outer bracket 62 to which the mount main unit 12 is not
attached, damage to the engaging piece 96 is prevented. In
particular, since the forward wall 84 is provided at the front end
portion of the outer bracket 62, the front of the engaging piece 96
is covered and protected by the forward wall 84, thereby more
effectively preventing damage to the engaging piece 96.
[0082] Meanwhile, in the engine mount 10 in which the outer bracket
62 is attached to the mount main unit 12, it is necessary to
confirm whether or not there is a problem in the engagement between
the distal end face 104 of the engaging piece 96 and the detent
engaging face 32 due to the engaging piece 96 being damaged when
the engaging wall 30 climbs over the engaging piece 96 or the like.
Therefore, by a method of manufacturing the engine mount 10
including a step (a non-destructive inspection step) of measuring
relative positions of the first inspection flat surface 102 and the
second inspection flat surface 108 on each of both the left and
right sides with the outer bracket 62 attached to the mount main
unit 12, it is possible to detect engagement failure between the
engaging pieces 96, 96 and the respective detent engaging faces 32,
32.
[0083] That is, when the engaging wall 30 of the mount main unit 12
climbs over the engaging piece 96 of the outer bracket 62, the
engaging piece 96 elastically deforms, so that the first inspection
flat surface 102 moves relative to the second inspection flat
surface 108. Then, when the engaging wall 30 climbed over the
engaging piece 96 and the engaging piece 96 is inserted into the
outer recess 26, the engaging piece 96 recovers its initial shape.
Accordingly, the first inspection flat surface 102 returns to the
initial relative position with respect to the second inspection
flat surface 108. Therefore, in the engine mount 10 in which the
outer bracket 62 is mounted on the mount main unit 12, if the
relative positions of the first inspection flat surface 102 and the
second inspection flat surface 108 in the left-right direction
coincide with their initial positions, it means that the engaging
piece 96 including the first inspection flat surface 102 is
arranged in an appropriate position without damage, and the
engaging piece 96 and the detent engaging face 32 are properly
engaged.
[0084] On the other hand, in the engine mount 10 in which the outer
bracket 62 is mounted on the mount main unit 12, if the relative
positions of the first inspection flat surface 102 and the second
inspection flat surface 108 in the left-right direction deviate
from their initial relative positions, it is considered that the
engaging piece 96 and the detent engaging face 32 are not properly
engaged. That is, in the cases where the engaging piece 96 and the
detent engaging face 32 are not properly engaged, such as when the
engaging piece 96 are caught on the detent engaging face 32 or the
like and the engaging piece 96 is not properly housed in the outer
recess 26, and when the engaging piece 96 gets damaged while
climbing over the engaging wall 30, the engaging piece 96 does not
recover its initial shape. Therefore, when the engagement between
the engaging piece 96 and the detent engaging face 32 is failed,
relative positions of the first inspection flat surface 102
provided to the engaging piece 96 and the second inspection flat
surface 108 in the left-right direction deviate from their initial
positions. Therefore, after mounting the outer bracket 62 on the
mount main unit 12, by performing the non-destructive inspection
step of measuring the relative positions of the first inspection
flat surface 102 and the second inspection flat surface 108 in the
left-right direction, it is possible to detect the engagement
failure between the engaging piece 96 and the detent engaging face
32 due to, for example, damage to the engaging piece 96, based on
the measurement results.
[0085] In the present practical embodiment, the gap 116 is set
between the inner surface of the engaging piece 96 in the
left-right direction and the concave bottom face 28 of the outer
recess 26. Thus, if the engaging piece 96 is properly housed in the
outer recess 26, the engaging piece 96 will not be pushed outward
in the left-right direction by the concave bottom face 28.
Therefore, in an appropriate engaged state between the engaging
piece 96 and the detent engaging face 32, the relative positions of
the first inspection flat surface 102 of the engaging piece 96 and
the second inspection flat surface 108 will not deviate from their
initial relative positions, and the engaged state can be accurately
grasped based on the relative positions of the first inspection
flat surface 102 and the second inspection flat surface 108.
[0086] As shown in FIGS. 3, 11, and 12, the first inspection flat
surface 102 provided to the engaging piece 96 is exposed to the
outside in the left-right direction through the aperture window
106, while the second inspection flat surface 108 is provided on
the external side surface 107 of each opposed wall 74 exposed to
the outside in the left-right direction. With this configuration,
the relative positions of the first inspection flat surface 102 and
the second inspection flat surface 108 can be easily measured from
the outside.
[0087] The method for measuring the relative positions of the first
inspection flat surface 102 and the second inspection flat surface
108 is not particularly limited. For example, the relative
positions of the first inspection flat surface 102 and the second
inspection flat surface 108 can be measured by a known method using
reflection of radio waves, light waves, or the like. It is
preferable to adopt a method of irradiating the first inspection
flat surface 102 and the second inspection flat surface 108 exposed
to the outside in the left-right direction with a laser, and
measuring the relative positions of the first inspection flat
surface 102 and the second inspection flat surface 108 based on the
reflected light. Such a non-destructive inspection step enables
more accurate and quicker inspection than visual confirmation, and
also enables automatic inspection by a machine.
[0088] For example, with respect to the engine mount 10 sent
forward or backward by a belt conveyor or the like, by irradiating
the first inspection flat surfaces 102, 102 and the second
inspection flat surfaces 108, 108 on the left and right sides with
a laser from both sides in the left-right direction, the relative
distance between the first inspection flat surface 102 and the
second inspection flat surface 108 can be measured and inspected on
each of both the left and right sides. This facilitates automation
of the inspection, and the number of personnel required for the
inspection can be reduced.
[0089] The first inspection flat surface 102 and the second
inspection flat surface 108 are parallel to each other. Thus, even
if there is a deviation in the feed position of the engine mount 10
forward or backward by the belt conveyor or the like, the
reflection direction of the laser or the like is less likely to
change, thereby making it possible to measure the relative
positions of the first inspection flat surface 102 and the second
inspection flat surface 108 with stability and high accuracy. In
preferred practice, with respect to the first inspection flat
surface 102 and the second inspection flat surface 108, the size in
the front-back direction and the size in the vertical direction are
set such that measurement of the relative positions by a laser or
the like is possible even if there is a deviation in the feed
position of the engine mount 10 or the like described above.
[0090] In the non-destructive inspection step, it is desirable that
the relative positions of the first inspection flat surface 102 and
the second inspection flat surface 108 be measured in the
left-right direction orthogonal to the first inspection flat
surface 102 and the second inspection flat surface 108. This
enables stable measurement during mass production in which a large
number of engine mounts 10 are inspected. This is because, for
example, when the relative positions of the first inspection flat
surface 102 and the second inspection flat surface 108 are measured
by using the reflected lights of the laser irradiated in the
measurement direction or the like, even if the distances from the
light receiving positions of the reflected lights to the inspection
flat surfaces 102, 108 vary, the reflected lights reflected by the
inspection flat surfaces 102, 108 are less likely to deviate from
the light receiving positions.
[0091] A practical embodiment of the present invention has been
described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited
to those specific descriptions. For example, the specific shape of
the engaging piece can be changed as appropriate. Specifically, for
example, in the preceding practical embodiment, the engaging piece
96 extending in a generally constant cross-sectional shape is
illustrated. However, the cross-sectional shape of the engaging
piece may be changed in the length direction. Namely, the engaging
piece may be thickened from the distal end toward the proximal end,
or may be widened from the distal end toward the proximal end in
the vertical direction, or the like.
[0092] For example, it would also be acceptable that, on the
opposed inside faces 92, 92 of the outer bracket 62, respective
fitting grooves are formed so as to open inward in the left-right
direction and extend in the front-back direction. By the left and
right opposite end portions of the second mounting member 16 (the
guide parts 22, 22) being fitted in the said fitting grooves, the
outer bracket 62 may be fixed only to the second mounting member
16. Additionally, by interposing a rubber elastic body between the
overlapped surfaces of the attachment portion of the mount main
unit 12 and the outer bracket 62, it is also possible to allow
dimensional error or the like.
[0093] The outside surface 101 in the left-right direction of the
engaging piece 96 does not necessarily have to be entirely exposed
from the aperture window 106, and it is acceptable as long as the
first inspection flat surface 102 is exposed through the aperture
window 106.
[0094] The arrangement of the second inspection flat surface 108 is
not limited as long as it is provided at a position off the
aperture window 106 on the external side surface 107 of each
opposed wall 74. For example, the second inspection flat surface
108 may be arranged adjacently to the aperture window 106 on the
outside in the front-back direction, or may be provided at a
position away from the aperture window 106.
[0095] It would also be acceptable that, when a predetermined
deviation from the initial relative positions of the first
inspection flat surface 102 and the second inspection flat surface
108 is measured, the engaged state between the engaging piece 96
and the detent engaging face 32 is determined to be appropriate,
and when the deviation from the initial relative positions of the
first inspection flat surface 102 and the second inspection flat
surface 108 is larger or smaller than the predetermined amount, the
engaged state between the engaging piece 96 and the detent engaging
face 32 is determined to be inappropriate. Such a determination
method can be adopted in the case where, for example, the gap 116
is not set between the engaging piece 96 and the concave bottom
face 28 of the outer recess 26, and the engaging piece 96 is
overlapped with the concave bottom face 28 in a contact state.
[0096] While the preceding practical embodiment illustrates the
vibration-damping device main unit of a fluid-filled type, the
vibration-damping device main unit may be, for example, a solid
type that is not a fluid-filled type.
* * * * *